[bcarlso52]

These exams are completely brutal and they are a true test of will and sacrifice. You may be reading this after failing an exam or in the middle of a study session in which you cannot focus like I would be sometimes. I will take a little bit of your time but I hope it gives you some motivation to keep pushing.

A little bit about my background, I was not the best accounting student in college. I attended a major university to play baseball and my only desire was to turn professional. Fast forward a few years into college and my injuries start to accumulate and my childhood dreams slowly vanish with the passing days leading up to graduation. I found myself graduating in May 2016 with an accounting GPA barely scraping a 3.0, no internship or job experience as college baseball coaches basically require you to play year-round, and no idea what how much of a beast the CPA exams were going to be. I never quite applied myself in school as I was focused on my dream and felt way behind compared to my peers graduating with high GPA’s and those having offers from multiple Big Four firms. Somehow I managed to land a staff auditor position at a medium sized firm and began my journey in the real world.

I started in June 2016 and decided not to start studying immediately in fear of overwhelming myself with a real job and an upcoming marriage in the fall. I survived my first busy season, had a perfect wedding, and then began my studying. My work provided Becker so I utilized that for nearly all of my exams but I did not know what I was doing for the longest time. I never really had great study habits in college and did not know where to start with these monster exams. I decided to try and tackle REG so I studied on and off for about 3 months and failed with a 65. Although I was naturally dejected, I felt good knowing I was not far off.

I decided to go after it again at the start of the second quarter ’17 to try and pass but I failed again, 68. This time I was sick to my stomach. Surely I knew more right?! Why isn’t this information sticking?! Frustrated, I decided to try and tackle the beast, FAR. In addition, I went after AUD during the summer busy season as well. To be honest, I studied maybe a week for FAR and my brain was not in it as I was solely focused on a trip to Vegas and AUD I slacked around for a month. By the time Q3 ’17 scores were released, I was kicked in the teeth with a 45 on FAR (deserved) and a 73 on AUD (angered). I expected to fail FAR as I was not really in it but a 45?! Just wow! And the AUD score I felt my gut drop and lose all hope.

I was pretty miserable for a week after so far failing four exams. I knew these exams would be hard and I heard it was an exam of determination but sheesh! Well I was bummed for a week and read some posts on here about how others study and figured I had to switch it up. I started to skip all of the lectures and strictly read the outlines, write and re-write all my notes, then hammer MCQ’s. The constant re-writing is the only way I memorize and learn things so it was tedious but it paid off in Q4 ’17 with an 84 on AUD. Complete elation when finding that out as I had found how I learned the best for me. Write notes, re-write the notes, re-write the notes, re-write the notes, you get the point. I utilized this for the next exams and passed BEC Q1 ’18 with an 85 and REG Q2 ’18 with a perfect 75.

The end is in sight! I know exactly how to study!……FAR. Panic sets in when I realize I have the hardest exam left and I scored a 45 on it the last time. I strap up my boots and utilize the same study habits that allowed me to pass the last three in a row. Full proof!

WRONG. Q3 ’18 scores come out and I scored a 62. But I had the perfect method to study?! What?!?! The embarrassment of telling coworkers, friends, and family I bombed my last exam put me in a hole for a few days. I again scoured the blogs looking for ways to improve. I thought I knew it all pretty well but apparently I was missing HUGE holes. I heard a coworker talking about how they sweared by NINJA and as a huge fan of the forum, I decided to give it a shot. Best decision I have ever made. I purchased NINJA for two consecutive months and utilized it in conjunction with Becker. I was doing everything I was doing before but also pounding MCQ’s in NINJA and writing my wrong questions. After the first month, I ditched Becker all together and utilized NINJA and my notes I was taking. I listened to the audio on all my drives to and from clients so much I basically memorized all of the little nuances. I even downloaded the flash cards so I could study if I was bored walking around shopping with my wife. I eat, slept, and lived NINJA for two months and it paid for itself.

I took FAR at the end of Q4 ’18 and I walked out furious. I had so many questions I could only narrow down to two options and then the sims were unbelievable. I don’t think I even got the research question at all. Safe to say when everyone asked how I thought it went, I literally said I am going to start studying tomorrow and retake it in January. I was distraught and doubting everything about how I would even pass this exam. I didn’t belong in this environment. I was a sub-par student in college and feel like I only know half of what my peers do!

Well the score release came and I cracked open my laptop with no hope whatsoever. I logged into my account and what?! a 78!! My journey is finally over when I thought it was never coming to an end. If you are struggling right now, keep pushing because it will work out. You will eventually find a way to study that works for you and then it is off to the races. Also, I was skeptical about the NINJA trending myth as I was trending at 77 and felt like I failed but it does work so if you are in a rut, I recommend it. Again, please keep pushing yourself and know that your efforts will be rewarded. Questioning your intelligence is a natural reaction to a fail on these exams but in order to pass, you must act unnatural in that you keep grinding through the suffering that is studying. Stay strong.

[Hank Scorpio]

tl;dr

FAR - 10/3/16
BEC - 69 - 10/31/16
AUD - November 2016
REG - December 2016

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